The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-29
A GEORGIA ROMANCE.
How True Friends Secured a Big For
tune by Their Fidelity.

tune by Their Fidelity.
pretty little romance has just culmi-
mated in Rabun county, Georgia. At the
base of Tiger mountain, half a mile off the
main road leading to Clayton, lives small
farmer named George w. billiard. Mr..
billiard is about 60 years of age, living with
his wife and two sons, the latter aged re-
spectively 80 and % Early last summer
Mr.. billiard went to his neighborhood post
office where he found awaiting him letter
covered over with post-marks, which de-
noted that it had travelled long distance to
reach its destination. The superscriptlon
was written In a familiar hand, but
one which he had not seen in
generation. He tore the seal and read
the missive, and. sure enough. found it to
be from his wife's brother, whom he had
seen for the last time in 1S49. AT that time
James McCurrie was a young man, as was
also George w. billiard The news had
reached Georgia of the wonderful gold dis
coveries in California. Young Georgians
who had gone there had written back glow
ing accounts of the fortunes which were
being made. These descriptions had the
effect of drawing still Others southwark to
the great Eldorado. Among those who
were full of the excitement were McCurrie
and billiard They had perfected all ar
family goodbye when billiard faltered. The
fearful eyes of McCurrie's young
sister touched his heart, especially as she
was weeping for him and not for her
brother. Throwing down the bundle he
held in his hands he declared that he
would stay if the girl would marry him.
To this she cheerfully agreed, so billiard
remained Georgia farmer, while Nc
Currie jumped into the stage coach and was
hot tfyna hA hod
been heard of. 1t was with mingled feel
ings, therefore, that billiard started to read
the letter from his old comrade. The letter
was a soiled one. McCurrie stated that he
had worked against adverse fortune, de-
clining to write to the folks at home until
he could strike it rich, but every year
found him striking it poorer, and now, old,
feeble and poor, his great wish was to look
once more upon his native hills, that he
could not do so unless he was sent money
enough upon which to return. Mr.. billiard
read the letter to his wife and sons eve
must send him the money" said the old
man. SO cow and q mule were sold and
the money went on its mission across the
continent. Several weeks time brought
another letter in which the old
man expressed his gratefulness for
the kindness done him, but he was
too sick to travel then. After that no more
was heard from him. Last Saturday large
official envelope was received at the little
post Office 1t bears the inscription of a
strange hand. The neighbors, one by one,
dropped by and told billiard about its ar
rival. 1t was too late for him to get it then,
but he was on hand early Monday morning.
As he read it his hands trembled. 1t re-
cited that James McCurrie was dead; that
he wished to test the fidelity of his sisters
family; that their prompt response to his
appeal had moved him, and that by his will
his property in California, valued at 81 $780,
000 was willed in equal parts to his sister,
her husband and their two sons. The two
young men are going to California to super
intend the property, which they intend to
convert into cash, when they will return to
Georgia.